Ursula Wierer

Un nuovo intervento di scavo in località Ambrogiana a Montelupo Fiorentino eseguito nel 2020/2021 ha fornito l’occasione per riprendere in mano i dati emersi dai precedenti scavi condotti nella stessa località, in particolare dallo scavo “Ambrogiana lotto 1” del 2010. Finalità del lavoro è il tentativo di correlare le evidenze archeologiche delle due aree, distanti circa 12 m una dall’altra, anche in vista di futuri interventi di archeologia preventiva. Una correlazione sembra possibile per un canale, databile ad epoca etrusca, riscontrato in entrambi gli scavi. Il nuovo scavo “Ambrogiana 3” ha inoltre confermato la frequentazione preistorica dell’area, anche se una correlazione spaziale e stratigrafica puntuale risulta difficile sia per la distanza che per la stratigrafia compromessa. Buche di origine antropica documentate negli scavi attestano la presenza di strutture in elevato, sia semplici che complesse. L’estesa area sul terrazzo prospiciente il fiume Arno era stata frequentata a più riprese per scopi produttivi o insediativi alla fine del terzo millennio a.C., tra la fine dell’Eneolitico e l’età del bronzo.

Le ricerche archeologiche condotte a partire dal 2020 e tutt’ora in corso, all’interno del cantiere di restauro dell’ex Abbazia di S. Salvatore e S. Lorenzo a Settimo presso Scandicci alle porte di Firenze, hanno permesso di indagare la parte del complesso monumentale rimasta in uso ai privati. Saggi archeologici mirati, condotti in zone diverse dell’abbazia, hanno rivelato la presenza di stratigrafie complesse, in alcuni punti potenti fino a quasi 3 m, che separano i piani di vita due-trecenteschi da quelli attuali. I saggi nel sottosuolo, la lettura delle stratigrafie murarie e delle caratteristiche architettoniche così come l‘assistenza archeologica ai lavori di restauro stanno permettendo di acquisire nuove informazioni sugli aspetti architettonici e funzionali dei diversi ambienti, contribuendo a delineare la morfologia originaria del primo impianto cistercense due-trecentesco e le numerose risistemazioni dell’edificio avvenute nei secoli successivi. Gli esiti delle indagini consentiranno di ridefinire in modo organico e puntuale la storia complessiva dell’edificio, che si conferma essere un formidabile palinsesto per lo studio dell’edilizia medievale e post medievale del territorio fiorentino.

Le ricerche archeologiche condotte, a partire dal 2020, all’interno dell’ex Abbazia di S. Salvatore e S. Lorenzo a Settimo presso Scandicci (Fi), rientrano nel quadro di un ampio progetto di restauro del complesso architettonico e hanno permesso di indagare in più aree la parte dell’edificio rimasta in uso ai privati. Analisi non invasive e saggi mirati, condotti in zone diverse del complesso, hanno rivelato la presenza di un consistente interro, spesso in alcuni punti fino a quasi 3 m, che separa i piani di vita due-trecenteschi da quelli attuali. La scansione stratigrafica si presta pertanto a considerazioni sull’interazione tra gli abitanti della Badia e gli eventi naturali legati alla vicinanza del fiume Arno e dei suoi affluenti, e sul modo in cui questa interazione abbia condizionato l’uso degli spazi interni ed esterni e delle terre circostanti. Le indagini hanno permesso inoltre di acquisire nuove informazioni sugli aspetti architettonici e funzionali dei diversi ambienti, contribuendo a delineare sia la morfologia originaria del primo impianto cistercense due-trecentesco che i diversi interventi di risistemazione dell’edificio. La lettura integrata delle stratigrafie murarie e delle caratteristiche architettoniche, congiuntamente allo studio preliminare dei reperti e delle sequenze stratigrafiche, sta consentendo infine di ridefinire in modo organico e puntuale la storia complessiva dell’edificio, che si conferma essere un palinsesto fondamentale per lo studio dell’edilizia medievale e post medievale del territorio fiorentino.

Le indagini di archeologia preventiva eseguite lungo la tratta ferroviaria tra Granaiolo ed Empoli hanno offerto
una valida occasione per indagare la Bassa Valdelsa, insieme a una porzione della pianura dell’Arno a sud di Empoli, !nora poco nota dal punto di vista del popolamento antico. Le ricerche di superficie,  l’aerofotointerpretazione e l’esecuzione di 41 saggi lungo i 10 km di tratta ferroviaria, conclusi nel febbraio 2020, hanno rintracciato evidenze protostoriche, in particolare
a Terra!no, di epoca romana, specialmente in due siti
scoperti a Molin Nuovo e Bisarna, e medievali, individuando un insediamento di tale epoca a Sant’Andrea Fontanella. A frequentazioni etrusche sono riferibili materiali sporadici trovati a Brusciana. Questa prima presentazione analizza i dati a livello territoriale approfondendo, attraverso l’esame delle quote altimetriche, aspetti del paesaggio antico e della predittività del potenziale archeologico.

Un recente cambio di proprietà della Fattoria di Bibbiani ha dato impulso al restauro di un’ampia parte del complesso, formato dalla villa padronale e numerose pertinenze. Il cantiere è ancora in corso e s’intende qui fornire un primo resoconto. Il progetto di restauro, improntato su un approccio conservativo, si è arricchito nel corso dei lavori per due significativi momenti: il ritrovamento di alcuni resti archeologici nella limonaia e il restauro del teatrino settecentesco. Questo episodio ribadisce quanto sia fondamentale operare sui beni culturali nella cura delle loro stratificate valenze: archeologiche, architettoniche, storico artistiche e paesaggistiche.

New archaeological sondage, performed during refurbishment works, and written sources provides new data on the early 14th century foundation of the fortress and its transformation into a rural estate in the 15th century.

I lavori previsti per il progetto di riqualificazione
e miglioramento sismico della Torre di mezzo, nel parco
Corsini di Fucecchio, sono stati l’occasione per realizzare un
intervento archeologico finalizzato al recupero di nuovi dati
per la comprensione delle prime fasi medievali del sito. Le indagini
hanno previsto lo scavo di due trincee lungo i fianchi
esterni della torre e la pulitura profonda degli interni, consentendo
di mettere in luce alcuni livelli riferibili alle fasi fondative
della torre e della cisterna (inizi XIV secolo) costruita
alla sua base. Si è avuto modo, inoltre, di confermare per via
archeologica anche le fasi della smilitarizzazione dell’edificio,
avvenuta nel corso del XV secolo.

Abstract
The Mesolithic faunal record recovered from the Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca rock-shelter at Salorno/Salurn (Bolzano/South Tyrol, Italy, Eastern Alps) allows the reconstruction of the landscape and local environmental conditions in the Adige valley bottom during the Early Holocene thanks to the analysis of the species ecology. The predominance of a highly differentiated spectrum of species related to wetland contexts, largely the result of human predation, indicates a reduced catchment area with a high biodiversity exploited by the Sauveterrian fisher-hunter-gatherer groups repeatedly occupying the site. Data converge towards a habitat of slack and slow moving waters, bordered by abundant submerged and shore vegetation, and surrounded by forested areas. The intensive exploitation of some fauna such as the pike, the Cyprinidae, small mammals as the beaver and the wild cat as well as Unionidae and Emys orbicularis suggests specialized activities practiced near and on the site. Some particular choices, as the increasing preference for the pike rather than for the Cyprinidae, could possibly be related to consumption habits.

The Tyrolean Iceman, a 5,300-year-old glacier mummy recovered at the Tisenjoch (South Tyrol, Italy) together with his clothes and personal equipment, represents a unique opportunity for prehistoric research. The present work examines the Iceman’s tools which are made from chert or are related to chert working ‑ dagger, two arrowheads, endscraper, borer, small flake and antler retoucher ‑ and considers also the arrowhead still embedded in the shoulder of the mummy. The interdisciplinary results achieved by study of the lithic raw material, technology, use-wear analysis, CT analysis and typology all add new information to Ötzi‘s individual history and his last days, and allow insights into the way of life of Alpine Copper Age communities.
The chert raw material of the small assemblage originates from at least three different areas of provenance in the Southalpine region. One, or possibly two, sources derive from outcrops in the Trentino, specifically the Non Valley. Such variability suggests an extensive provisioning network, not at all limited to the Lessini mountains, which was able to reach the local communities. The Iceman’s toolkit displays typological characteristics of the Northern Italian tradition, but also comprises features typical of the Swiss Horgen culture, which will come as no surprise in the toolkit of a man who lived in a territory where transalpine contacts would have been of great importance. Ötzi was not a flintknapper, but he was able to resharpen his tools with a medium to good level of skill. Wear traces reveal that he was a right-hander. Most instruments in the toolkit had reached their final stage of usability, displaying extensive usage, mostly from plant working, resharpenings and breaks. Evidently Ötzi had not had any access to chert for quite some time, which must have been problematic during his last hectic days, preventing him from repairing and integrating his weapons, in particular his arrows. Freshly modified blade tools without any wear suggest planned work which he never carried out, possibly prevented by the events which made him return to the mountains where he was killed by a Southern Alpine archer.

The cat has long been important to human societies as a pest-control agent, object of symbolic value and companion animal, but little is known about its domestication process and early anthropogenic dispersal. Here we show, using ancient DNA analysis
of geographically and temporally widespread archaeological cat remains, that both the Near Eastern and Egyptian populations of Felis silvestris lybica contributed to the gene pool of the domestic cat at different historical times. While the cat’s worldwide conquest began during the Neolithic period in the Near East, its dispersal gained momentum during the Classical period, when the Egyptian cat successfully spread throughout the Old World. The expansion patterns and ranges suggest dispersal along
human maritime and terrestrial routes of trade and connectivity. A coat-colour variant was found at high frequency only after the Middle Ages, suggesting that directed breeding of cats occurred later than with most other domesticated animals.
The domestic cat is present on all continents except Antarctica, and in the most remote regions of the world, and its evolutionary success is unquestioned. While it is nowadays one of the most cherished companion animals in the Western world, for
ancient societies barn cats, village cats and ships’ cats provided critical protection against vermin, especially rodent pests responsible for economic loss and disease1. Owing to a paucity of cat remains in the archaeological record, current hypotheses about early cat domestication rely on only a few zooarchaeological case studies.
These studies suggest that ancient societies in both the Near East and Egypt could have played key roles in cat domestication2,3. Wildcats (Felis silvestris) are distributed all over the Old World. Current taxonomy distinguishes five wild, geographically partitioned subspecies: Felis silvestris silvestris, Felis silvestris lybica, Felis

This volume represents the first part of the conference proceedings " MesoLife. A Mesolithic perspective on Alpine and neighbouring territories " which took place at the Museo " Vittorino Cazzetta " of Selva di Cadore (Belluno, Italy) from 11 th to 14 th June 2014. The conference aimed at investigating the role played by the Alps in favouring or preventing contacts and cultural exchange during the first part of the Holocene. Thanks to contributions from neighbouring regions the picture could be enlarged to a European scale and gave the opportunity to compare and discuss adaptation dynamics to different environments and geographical contexts both from a synchronic and diachron-ic viewpoint. Summary Questo volume rappresenta la prima parte degli atti del convegno " MesoLife. A Mesolithic perspective on Alpine and neighbouring territories " che si è svolto presso il Museo " Vittorino Cazzetta " di Selva di Cadore (Belluno) dall'11 al 14 giugno 2014. Il convegno ha avuto per obiettivo quello di valutare il ruolo svolto dalle Alpi nel favorire o ostacolare i contatti e gli scambi culturali durante la prima parte dell'Olocene. Grazie ai contributi inerenti le regioni limitrofe è stato possibile portare la discussione ad una scala europea e confrontare le di-namiche di adattamento ad ambienti e contesti geografici differenti, sia da un punto di vista sincronico che diacronico.

As part of the research project " Living near the water " , focused on the Early Mesolithic rock shelter of Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca located at Salorno, in the Adige Valley (Bozen/Bolzano Province, Northern Italy), about 600 bird remains recovered from the excavations have been analyzed. The 27 identified species belong mainly to Passeriformes (about 250 specimens). The remains of Piciformes, Galliformes (among which the quail, Coturnix coturnix, is prevalent) and Gruiformes (belonging to the Rallidae family) are less abundant. Anseriformes, Suliformes, Podicipediformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, diurnal (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and nocturnal raptors (Strigiformes) are represented in lower percentages. Forest species are the most frequent, but also species living in other biotopes, such as aquatic and open habitat birds, have been identified; rocky and mountain environments are represented by only two species. The taphonomic analyses did not allow defining the degree of human involvement in the accumulation of the bird bone assemblage. Riassunto Nell'ambito del progetto di ricerca " Vivere vicino all'acqua " , finalizzato allo studio del riparo sotto-roccia di Galgenbühel / Dos de la Forca, localizzato a Salorno, nella Valle dell'Adige (Provincia di Bolzano) e oggetto di frequentazione antropica nel Mesolitico antico, sono stati analizzati circa 600 resti di uccelli recuperati nel corso degli scavi. Le 27 specie individuate appartengono principal-mente ai Passeriformes (circa 250 resti). Molto meno abbondanti sono i resti di Piciformes, i Galli-formes (tra i quali domina la quaglia, Coturnix coturnix) ed i Gruiformes (appartenenti alla famiglia dei Rallidae). Sono presenti in percentuali minori Anseriformes, Suliformes, Podicipediformes, Cha-radriiformes, Columbiformes, rapaci diurni (Accipitriformes e Falconiformes) e notturni (Strigifor-mes). Prevalgono specie boschive, ma sono presenti anche uccelli che frequentano altri biotopi, soprat-tutto quello acquatico e gli spazi aperti; habitat rocciosi e di montagna sono rappresentati da due sole specie. L'analisi tafonomica condotta su un campione di ossa non ha permesso di definire il grado di coinvolgimento antropico nell'accumulo di questi reperti.

Abstract: Raw-material analysis combined with a techno-typological study was carried out on the lithic assemblages stemming from
the Sauveterrian site Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca. The aim was to gain a better insight into the management of raw material, reduction
sequences (chaînes opératoires) and human mobility in the context of the Early Mesolithic frequentation of the Adige Basin.
The Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca rock-shelter is located in Salurn (Adige Valley, Northern Italy), in the province of Bolzano/Bozen.
The site lies on a debris cone at the foot of a Triassic wall and overlooks the valley bottom. Radiocarbon dates attest to repeated human
frequentation between 9265 ± 70 BP (ETH-27173, 8425 – 8089 cal. BC) and 8560 ± 65 BP (ETH-22091, 7705 – 7478 cal. BC). The
economy of the site was related to the resources of the valley bottom wetland and the forested surroundings. The exploitation of aquatic
fauna, mainly represented by fish, freshwater molluscs and beavers, ungulates (mostly wild boar and red deer) and small carnivores
(dominated by wild cat) is documented.
The present study regards the lithic assemblages of phases 2, 3 and 4. Raw-material analyses, conducted on a sample of about 1,300 artefacts,
provide evidence for the exploitation of Upper Jurassic to Eocene cherty limestones that were deposited on the western margin of
the Trento Plateau, namely the Maiolica, Scaglia Variegata Alpina, Scaglia Rossa and Chiusole formations. On the basis of the depositional
patterns of the area that influenced the qualitative and quantitative distribution of the cherts, two procurement areas were identified:
the outcrops of the Non Valley, 10 km in a straight line to the west of the site, and those located in the area of Mount Finonchio and the
Folgaria Plateau, at a straight-line distance of approximately 35 – 40 km southwards. Non Valley cherts were collected predominantly
from detritic covers, whilst Finonchio/Folgaria raw material was collected mainly from the residual soils of the karstic plateau.
Despite the different distances from the site, the frequency of Non versus Finonchio/Folgaria cherts does not present a relevant difference.
The relatively high number of the latter cannot be explained by the better quality of raw material, as the varieties of chert from
both areas, being all very fine crystalline cherts, are similar. Indeed, no significant differences were observed as regards the size and
shape of the exploited blocks, reduction processes, blank selection and tool manufacturing.
Rough chert blocks from both areas, of 6 – 8 cm maximum side length, were transported to the site to be worked. Natural diaclases were
generally used as striking platforms and core flanks. The lithic production aimed to produce small series of thin and non standardised
bladelets. Three different reduction sequences have been identified: on prismatic volumes, on oval flat surfaces (namely thick flakes
with facial exploitation) and on narrow surfaces. Knapping was unipolar. Maintenance was carried out through lateral flakes or thick
detachments to eliminate hinged negatives.
Thin blanks, mostly bladelets, were transformed into armatures. These are mostly represented by triangles and backed points. Transformation
occurred by means of intentional shortening using the microburin technique and by unipolar abrupt retouch. Common tools
were obtained from all the different blank categories (mostly on generic flakes), including by-products stemming from initialisation
and maintenance. All stages of the production process are represented, attesting that flaking occurred on site. Only a modest number of
large specimens are incompatible with the described bladelet reduction sequences, suggesting the importation of finished items, which,
at least for phase 2, are more frequently made on Finonchio/Folgaria raw material.
A picture emerges of a rather indistinct raw-material procurement carried out in two different areas located at some distance from each
other. The same knapping goals were met, suggesting the collection of raw material during periodic migrations possibly on the occasion
of other economic activities, such as the exploitation of several ecological niches in a wider area. This supply strategy persisted over
a time span of several hundreds of years, revealing a continuity in the habits of hunter-gatherer groups belonging to the same cultural
tradition.
As regards the accessibility of the identified areas, the outcrops in the Non Valley and in the Finonchio/Folgaria area are located in a
mid-mountain territory and are easily accessible from the Adige Valley. Evidence of collection from torrent pebbles during phase 4
Ressources lithiques, productions et transferts entre Alpes et Méditerranée
Actes de la journée de la Société préhistorique française de Nice, 28-29 mars 2013
Textes publiés sous la direction de
Antonin Tomasso, Didier Binder, Gabriele Martino, Guillaume Porraz,
Patrick Simon et Nicolas Naudinot
Paris, Société préhistorique française, 2016
(Séances de la Société préhistorique française, 5)
p. 22􀀜-2􀀘􀀙
www.prehistoire.org
ISSN : 2263-3847 – ISBN : 2-913745-2-913745-64-4
Ursula Wierer and Stefano Bertola
230 Ursula Wierer and Stefano Bertola
could indicate chert collection along the Noce River. A direct conjunction between the Folgaria Plateau and the Galgenbühel runs along
the Adige Valley. Because of the complex hydrographic setting of the valley bottom supposed in the Early Holocene, with a meandering
river course and secondary standing waters, the routes along the valley would have possibly crossed the detritic talus and alluvial cones.
Furthermore, the use of water ways has to be taken into account as we are referring to human groups with a wetland-based economy.
Keywords: chert-bearing formations of the Trento Plateau, Non Valley, Finonchio/Folgaria area, bladelet production, armatures, common
tools, possible routes.

Seasonal mobility connected to a scheduled resource exploitation is a recurrent topic in the interpretation
of the Early Mesolithic settlement pattern of the Adige Basin in the South Eastern Alps. Nevertheless
direct archaeological seasonality data are scarce. This work presents new results from seasonal
dating on faunal remains from the Sauveterrian site of Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca in the Adige Valley
(Northern Italy) frequented between 9265 ± 70 and 8454 ± 46 BP uncal. (8699e7459 BC cal.) by hunter
egathererefisher communities. An effort to collect and combine multifold data in order to dispose of
complementary evidence for the interpretation, was made. Analyses are based on the incremental bone
growth structures of the fish remains, tooth eruption/shedding and bone fusion of juvenile macromammals
as well as on the presence of migrating birds. Results highlight a general preponderance of
data referring to spring and summer throughout the stratigraphic sequence, whilst autumnewinter
evidence is sporadic.
The reasons for a marked springesummer occupation of the site, best documented by the fish sample,
partly the result of targeted catches, are most likely related to the predominant wetland economy. Seen
in a regional perspective, the results break up with the dichotomy of “winter-valley bottom” and
“summer-mountain territories” used to explain the relationship between low- and highland sites. A first
comparative analysis between neighboring valley bottom rock-shelters based on macrofaunal ecology
and economy as well as shelter exposition, suggests a higher variability in site function, and maybe also
occupation season, as prospected so far.

The Early Mesolithic rockshelter site Gaigenbuhel/Dos de la Forca (Province of Bozen/Bolzano, Italy, Eastern Alps) lies in the Adige/Elsch Va11ey at the foot of a steep rock face that borders the va11ey. It is located above a detritic cone near the wet environment in the va11ey bottom. The range of radiocarbon dating is betwt'en 926S ± 70 years BP uncal. (8425 - 8089 8C ca1.) and 8S60 ± 6S years BP unca1. (7705 -7478 BC caL), attesting that the si te was frequented
by human groups between the final part of Preboreal and the midBoreal. Evidence of Cyprinid and Pike fishing and a great amount of beaver bones as well as presence of otter and Union testify an intense exploitation of wetland resources. Results of a taphonomic analysis conducted on Emys orbicularis remains are presented in this paper. Cut marks on limb bones testify the consumption of this reptile. Burned specimens related to this taxon are very common, more than ones related to other taxa. In particular most specimens related to the carapace and the plastron are carbonised
or calcined. In phase 4 only the carapace fragments are burned, whilst plastron elements are not. It could indicate the cooking of turtles directly on hearths or that carapaces were used as vessels to cook or heat food or other substances.

Galgenbuhel/Dos de la Forca is an Early Mesolithic site located at Salorno (Bolzano, Italy, Alps) and dated between approximately 8S00 and 7S00 BC cal. The subsistence economy of the hunter-gatherer groups was based on the exploitation of nearby wetlands and the forested valley bottom, Together with ungulates as wild boar, red deer and chamois, the fauna comprises small carnivores (wild cat,
fox, pine marten, badger) and semi-aquatic mammals such as otter and beaver. The latter is the most abundant taxon and a reasonable amount of its remains bear cut marks. Anthropic traces are also present on bones of Fe/is silvestris, Martes martes, Lutra lutra and Lepus sp. A recent ly published paper about the wild cat remains of Galgenbuhel has demonstrated its exploitation not only for its fur but for nutritional purposes, too. We present the examination of the skeletal frequencies and the distribution of the anthropic traces
on the bones belonging to the other small carnivores, rodents and lagomorphs. A 3D digital microscope analysis was performed in order to identify the origin of the cut ma rks. Results have allowed to reconstruct the chaine operatoire adopted by hunter-gatherers for the treatment of Castor fiber carcasses and to understand the role of each species in their subsistence strategies. The work is part of a research project (living near the water) finances by the Higher Education Support, Unive rsity and Research Office of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano